TV Deaths That Sadly Happened Because The Actor Died

Plenty of TV deaths have shocked us for just how unexpected they were, but when an actor dies, it’s almost inevitable that their character will be killed off too.

There was a time when recasting the character would have been an option, but these days, showrunners respect their audiences too much to put a new actor in a beloved role.

From the Sopranos antagonist whose actress died in the middle of an important arc to the way in which Riverdale dealt with the death of Luke Perry, let’s take a look at some TV deaths that sadly happened because the actor died.

#TV #RIP #TVShows

Livia Soprano, The Sopranos | 0:00
Richard Gilmore, Gilmore Girls | 1:01
Judge Dennis "Happy" Boyle, Ally McBeal | 1:57
Fred Andrews, Riverdale | 2:48
Barry Frost, Rizzoli & Isles | 3:52

[GrungeHQ]

Rest in peace to all of these actors. They did what they loved until the end.

[Killdroid]

I really feel for Barry frost. I am diagnosed bipolar and struggle with it every single day. You can’t get a break from it. I’ve tried committing suicide but failed and I’m glad. But not everyone gets their second chance. I never heard of him before this or watched any of his work. But I have a new found respect for this man. Rip Barry

[davidjackson]

What about Miguel Ferrer? The last thing he was in was NCIS LA.

[ruthfurtado]

Sadly, Lee Thompson Young's suicide was played out on-screen several years before in the show Flash Forward when his character jumped from the roof of LA FBI Headquarters. It was a shocking plot twist and seeing it again after Young's suicide left me sobbing...

[sabbithablood]

Wow! Didn't know about a lot of these. A good video though i think you did it tastefully so thank you 👍

[breezy]

You missed several such as John Ritter in 8 Simple Rules, Dolph Sweet from Gimme a Break and Zara Cully from The Jeffersons

[dikleined]

You forgot Mrs. Wolowitz from The big bang theory!

[solfeldman]

I am shocked that Cory Monteith isn't in this list

[johnny-becker]

I thought since I was watching a lot of Barney Miller episodes on Youtube that this video was suggested to me because Jack Soo (Det. Nick Yamana) died and they wrote his character as had died.

[March_for_Aries]

Very old TV Show - The Barney Miller show wasn't the same when Jack Soo died (the Japanese actor who played Sergeant Nick Yemana).

[JulieS]

You also forgot Dan Blocker from "Bonanza". His death ended the show as well.

[evilfingers]

It's not just Tv, unfortunate deaths also happens with movies, a good example is Fast & Furious "Paul Walker" he died during the making of Furious 7.

[samoyed]

Bea Benaderet who played hotel owner Kate of Petticoat Junction had passed away in 1968 and probably replaced by June Lockhart as series regular.

[JCPrivate]

The death of Lee Thomas Young in Rizzoli and Isles was rather crushing. I never saw the show until this past summer and had no idea the actor had passed away. It was a bigger let down when the character of Frankie was bumped up to fill the gap. He just didn’t have it got me because I had come to view him as a buffoon, who was always whining. I never saw him as a serious detective. Although I continued to watch the show because of the Rizzoli-Isles relationship and the older detective, many of the other actors were less appealing. I couldn’t figure out why they killed off Dr. Isles’ female assistant Suzie do soon after Young’s departure. Overall, it was still a great show. I wish it were still airing!!

[silvereagle]

Lynne Thigpen from "The District", John Ritter from "8 Simple Rules".

[gunbunnyjunk]

Right. Post this video while I'm still in shock of John Witherspoon's passing. Thanks...

[rosemarymartinez]

So sad on learning of these talented people and their death. Rest in Peace.

[Lurker]

A older TV show, Road to Avonlea
had to do this when Colleen Dewhurst suddenly died. Sad day for us who where fans of that show and the Anne of Green Gabeles.

[ryannolechow]

What about the great Larry Hagman's passing during production of the reboot version of "Dallas"? 😞😢

[jeffdowney]

John Spencer (Leo McGarry) on The West Wing.